Mask and Memory

The laws of the ground you stood on don’t apply to me, m’lady, said the Devil on our first confrontation at
his shop, filled with an entire array of handmade masks. His face contorted into a hideous grin. I made a
mistake in attributing any traits of humanity to the beast who thrived in our voluntary ruin.

I first heard of him and his peculiar establishment from a friend who fancied the whims of the occult. She
told me the proper steps to meet the man. She said, “Go to our school, then to Narnia, tap on the open
water reserve tank three times, and observe the ripples of the water to find out the location of a door and
the time you can meet him. Go to the door at the exact time and open it. Be punctual to the millisecond,
because any later than five seconds, you will just be opening a normal door and embarrass yourself to the
occupants of a classroom. And bring any mementos, they function as currency for the shop. I bought a
pair of sandals for a strand of dead hair. Creepy, yes but I live for the supernatural. One thing I could not
buy was that mask.”

“Mask?” I said, confused with slight disinterest.

“Yeah, it looked ominous but intriguing. He told me that you can communicate with the dead if you wear
it. I asked whose thoughts, and he said anyone your soul desired.

I went silent. A medium that could communicate with someone who died was, to me, an opportunity.

“However, he said the mask is worth more than mere memory trinkets. It cost money. Money that could
save five generations from the need for food. For that amount, might as well forget about it.”

“And you are sharing this with me because?”

“You have to go there, Penny. I wanted to go but mom wanted me early. Buy me the Ambrosia perfume. I
heard the stuff can retain your youth for many years. I’ll pay you later. Bye, remember, Narnia is the
place!”

I am sorry girl, I may not be able to come back, I thought. My hands grew cold and numb.

Narnia is a place we named because we could immerse ourselves in nature more there. People visiting
there relaxed and listened to the leaves and the little noises of critters. It was not as popular when we
were in second-year college. Its sudden surge in popularity removed its mystique, which made me lose
interest in visiting much. I tapped the water tank three times with my hand, doing so rippled the water
and I could make out the following words:

L-204. Right door. 14:36. Knock thrice.

I set my phone alarm and then went to the room to wait for the exact time to open the door. There were
already students in the classroom and I could hear a lady’s voice through a lapel microphone. She
seemed to be having a great time with her students.

I looked at my wristwatch and there was only a minute left. For the last ten minutes, I was standing in
front of the door. It grew more awkward with each tick of the clock, as passersby—who were the students
occupying room L204—looked at me inquisitively.

My alarm went off, then I stood at the door and knocked three times. The gaps in the door emitted dark
and sharp tendrils. The air grew heavy and cold. It took every fiber of my being to keep me from running
away, then I heard heavy static and maniacal laughter on the other side. I wanted to leave, from this
wicked door, from this school, from everything. I wanted it all to stop, but my left hand clasped the knob
tight.

I opened the door. Every color and sound was nullified. I cannot see nor touch a thing.

Welcome, m’lady, to my humblest establishment. I am what you call a traveler, a collector, and an eager
businessman. When I first saw your face through the water, I made sure to rid it of any impurities to peek
at your beauty. Ah come now, take a seat. Here. No? Ah very well, allow yourself to be comfortable at the
very least. Now. What is your business here? Any merchandise that stole your eyes?
The man said, as if rehearsed or repeated a thousand times—with a vocal quality a sweet talker would
have. Keeping your mind in check would be essential, else he could sweep you off your feet should one be
careless. He wore modest clothing but was well-kept and careful in presenting himself.